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The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has launched a new consumer
protection strategy including a new "Good for Rugby" mark to enable
fans and customers to easily identify official England Rugby
products and services, including tickets, merchandise and
hospitality.

The introduction of the Good For Rugby mark will provide a clear
visual identifier and ensure customers have absolute faith that
they are buying from a trusted and authentic source.

"Watching England play at Twickenham Stadium is a special
experience and we value all fans who come to support our teams. We
are urging fans not to risk their money or potentially being
refused entry by using either unauthorised re-selling platforms or
buying tickets and hospitality through unofficial means.

"All profit generated by the RFU from ticket sales, hospitality
and merchandise is invested back into rugby so purchasing through
official channels keeps money within the game."

Profits reinvested in the game

Profits generated by the RFU go directly into upgrading
facilities and rugby clubs around the country, providing coaches,
developing the next generation of players, rewarding volunteers,
building artificial grass pitches and ultimately supporting the
England teams at all levels. Safeguarding consumer purchases
protects the investment the RFU is able to make in rugby at all
levels.

The RFU continues to work with other event owners and central
government to share best practice and intelligence, while
proactively monitoring the unofficial and re-sale market for sales
that contradict ticket terms and conditions.

The RFU is currently working with the Competitions and Markets
Authority on its legal action against the secondary tickets site
Viagogo. Consumers purchasing from these sellers and platforms,
often at inflated prices, run the risk that their tickets will not
be accepted and may be cancelled.

To improve the match day hospitality experience for fans the RFU
has launched England Rugby Hospitality, in partnership with Keith
Prowse, which is the only seller of hospitality in Twickenham's new
East Stand for England internationals.

The introduction of England Rugby Hospitality marks a change in
the way hospitality can be purchased, simplifying and improving the
experience for customers by replacing the significant variations in
price and quality of products that were sold by a variety of
different hospitality agents.

RFU taken legal action

The RFU has taken successful legal action in the High Court in
respect of unofficial hospitality sellers that continue to operate,
indicating that it will play an active role in the policing of the
market. However, there continues to be a number of unofficial
websites, with no link to the RFU, purporting to sell tickets and
hospitality at Twickenham Stadium for England internationals. Fans
should look for the Good for Rugby mark to protect themselves and
know that they are purchasing official hospitality.

The RFU has also worked closely with trading standards around
match day and online retail activity, taking action when
appropriate.

Brown continues: "With a number of England Rugby products
available either directly from the RFU or via a small number of
partners we want to give people confidence in their purchases which
the Good For Rugby brand will do."

Consumers will now see the Good For Rugby mark on official
websites including the England Rugby Hospitality,
ticketing and
online
store. The England Rugby Ticket site includes a ticket exchange
where tickets can be officially resold to other England Rugby fans
and refunds issued to the original purchaser, once resold.

Access to watch England at Twickenham is in high demand and at
the very core of the RFU's constitution is the commitment to reward
those that play, support and volunteer in rugby week in and week
out. At least 50% of the stadium's 82,000 tickets for every
international game are sold directly to the clubs, Constituent
Bodies, Referee Societies, universities, colleges and schools that
in turn grow and develop the game.